Camp TriYoga; Europe 2026, Installment Two
By Theresa Shay
Each summer, the TriYoga International family gathers in Europe for retreats and programs. Kaliji leads a week-long retreat in Germany, followed by programs for some of the longest standing European communities. Kaliji’s annual Yatra (tour) has been steady for 26 years. I have been honored to assist at programs the past four years.
The yearly retreat takes place at Yoga Vidya, the largest yoga retreat center in Europe, located in Horn-Bad Meinberg, a rural, green, known-to-be-rainy, hard-to-get-to-by-public-transportation area. For these reasons, and the familiar flora, Bad Meinberg reminds me of Central Pennsylvania.
Students join the retreat from many countries. This year I shared time with flow-ers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, England, Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, and Japan. Some of my dearest USA friends were also present.
The retreat works, every year, because TriYoga works, every time. Each year’s program is similar, and each year’s program is fresh. This year’s schedule included Chair Yoga two evenings.
Because the event spans seven days, the depth of experience expands exponentially. If a weekend TriYoga program makes Friday feel like a long time ago, a week of TriYoga makes you forget what “Friday” even means.
Most of the people who attend are TriYoga teachers. I’m surrounded by bodies and minds hungry for details, delighted by wisdom, curious about nuances, grateful for assists, shining with energy; people who love to be still, sustain silence, ask questions, and stay calm.
Many have devoted their lives to sharing TriYoga. We converse about the Flow before the program, after the program, on the way to the program, and at vegan meals under the trees. Their passion meets mine. We understand each other even when our shared language is basically “Jai Guru Devi” (Sanskrit) and single word sentences (English). The foundational lexicon “yes”, “no”, “good”, “not good”, “here”, “there”, “now”, “later”, “please”, and “thank you” works wonders. Clearest of all, of course, is the smile.
Retreat days begin at 7:30 am with yogaflow® and Prana Vidya (subtle practices). The 10:30 am brunch may be a breakfast meal, or a lunch meal. As the retreat center is fully vegan, everything laid out is a possibility. I lean toward lunch, then go back for breakfast material as dessert.
A long midday pause might be spent walking, sipping a coffee, meeting with Kaliji, napping, talking, or connecting with a teacher for additional support.
Afternoon programs begin at 2:30 pm with Q&A. Kaliji comments that people in Germany ask more questions than in any other country. Sometimes the discussions and jnana (philosophy) fill much of the afternoon. Kaliji always leaves time for yogaflow and deep relaxation, if not also Prana Vidya. On the hottest afternoon this year, we enjoyed a very light air flow, flying forward and back and turning on the mats while fans blew across the room.
The sun is still high in the sky when we head to dinner. Sunset won’t come until around 9 pm this week of summer solstice, when the retreat is held.
We gather again for a shorter evening program, including this year an art show by power point, a Vedanta presentation, happy birthday songs, and dancing. When the evening is complete, the team tidies the props, vacuums the carpet, refreshes the flowers, and carries forgotten teacups back to the other end of the building.
Each night, I return to my room wide awake, buzzing with delight from the day. I do my best to wind down. I post stories to social media. I take a cooling shower, lean out my window and watch dusk become dark, put legs up the wall, and wait to feel tired.
Finally, the smile that communicates across the Universe ushers me into sleep. It is present still when the alarm sings the song announcing that another full day of TriYoga bliss is beginning.
Theresa Shay is the founding director of TriYoga of Central Pennsylvania, where she teaches weekly yoga and meditation online and trains others to teach TriYoga®. Each week, she shares wisdom cultivated from decades of TriYoga study and practice.
Learn more about her here. Theresa can be reached at Theresa@PennsylvaniaYoga.com. Find her on Instagram @theresa_of_triyoga for more inspiration and light.